A-Avis Home Services Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Blog

You Don’t Have to See Poor Air Quality to Know It’s There

Poor indoor air quality isn’t something we can see. There are millions of particles floating in your air space right now, but the most you’ll be able to see with your naked eye are just a few motes of dust. And while no one is denying the existence of microscopic particles, it’s a fact of human psychology that not being able to see something makes us skeptical of its existence. That’s one potential reason why some homeowners don’t take air quality issues as seriously as they should.

However, there are several direct and indirect symptoms of poor indoor air quality that you can feel and see if you know to recognize them. We’ll go over what those signs and symptoms are below.

Flare up of Allergies and Asthma

The first kind of air quality issue we’ll go over is that of dirty air. What we mean by that is air that is filled with dust, dirt, pet dander, and other particles.

What these particles have in common is that they’re great at triggering your allergy and asthma symptoms. If you or a family member can’t relax in the home without these conditions flaring up, they might be able to benefit from an air filter or an air purifier. This is especially true if you have any pets that may be producing dander.

Air filters are installed in the HVAC system and are designed to catch any large particles that attempt to pass through them. Depending on the size of the particles invading your home, you might need a higher quality air filter. An HVAC contractor in Corona can inspect your air to determine which filter is best for you.

Air purifiers work similarly, but they use different methods that actively attract particles to them. Your HVAC contractor may choose to use a combination of both filters and purifiers through your home.

And if you have any doubts about air quality, try checking your air filter or purifier after an extended period of use. You’ll definitely see the result of all the contaminants in your airspace!

Sickness and Contraction of Seasonal Illnesses

Most contaminants can be captured through air filters or purifiers. However, there’s one type that they cannot eliminate: living microorganisms.

This includes viruses, bacteria, and mold spores. To prevent these contaminants from spreading illness through your home, you need a UV air purifier. These use an ultraviolet light to actively destroy the microorganisms from being able to reproduce.

Mold Growth

Humid air is sometimes just something we deal with during the hotter times of the year. However, humidity can get excessive in certain parts of the home, to the point that it creates a low air quality situation.

Particularly humid areas of your home may start developing mold. If that mold worsens, it can create black mold, a strain that’s harmful to inhale. Using a dehumidifier to bring moisture levels down to a reasonable level is your solution (and it will make you feel more comfortable, too).